Several outlets at Bower Place Mall recently reported cases of COVID-19 among their staff.
On Monday, a tenant advisory was sent out by mall owner QuadReal stating an employee at a store at Bower Place, who last worked April 14, had tested positive for the virus and was recuperating at home.
To protect employee privacy, the Advocate has decided not to name the stores.
On April 16 two similar advisories stated four employees — at four stores had tested positive. All had last worked on April 10 or 11.
The mall implemented its virus protocol, disinfecting common areas and notifying Alberta Health Services.
“The health and safety of our tenants, employees and guests are of paramount importance to us at Bower Place” and the mall “rigorously follows all public health directives,” said Adwoa Obrenu-Yamoah, the mall’s marketing manager.
Bower Place mall uses a digital counting system at entrances to comply with gathering size restrictions, said Obrenu-Yamoah. “We continue to collaborate with provincial, municipal, and local health authorities on our protocols and monitor local orders and guidelines.”
According to Alberta Health Services, no active outbreaks (listed as 10 cases or more) were declared at stores within Bower Mall and no health orders were issued about non-compliance.
But since the beginning of March, five complaints were investigated about concerns related to various aspects of COVID-19 response at mall stores.
In each instance investigators worked with store management to make the required changes to ensure compliance with health protocols, states AHS in an email. “We know that education and working collaboratively with businesses and organizations … continues to be very effective.”
Whenever a store employee tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing is done, and close contacts are notified. “In many instances, stores may opt to voluntarily close” in order to carry the sanitization that must take place, stated AHS.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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